Google Introduces AI-Powered Safety Tools to Protect Users from Phone Call Scams and Malicious Apps

Scam Detection in Phone by Google uses on-device AI.

Advertisement
Written by Akash Dutta, Edited by Siddharth Suvarna | Updated: 14 November 2024 13:32 IST
Highlights
  • Google’s new security features are first coming to Pixel devices
  • Users can choose to turn the feature on or off
  • The feature is currently only available in the US
Google Introduces AI-Powered Safety Tools to Protect Users from Phone Call Scams and Malicious Apps

Google Play Protect real-time alerts monitor an app’s activity to determine malicious behaviour

Photo Credit: Google

Google introduced two new artificial intelligence (AI) safety tools for Android devices on Wednesday. These tools are aimed at protecting users from phone call-based scams and malicious apps by monitoring the activity in real time. The first is Scam Detection in Phone by Google, which monitors conversation patterns to determine whether an incoming call could be a scam. The second is Google Play Protect real-time alerts which monitor the background activity of an app after it has been installed to detect malicious apps.

Google's New AI-Powered Safety Tools

The tech giant detailed the two new safety tools in its security blog post. Both of these features are being rolled out to Google Pixel 6 and newer models. The Scam Detection in Phone feature will initially be available only in the US to those who have signed up for the Google Beta Programme. The call-based safety tool will only work on English-language phone calls. The Google Play Protect live alerts will also be available outside of the US.

Scam Detection in Phone by Google
Photo Credit: Google

 

Scam Detection feature is different from typical caller ID apps and services which use phone numbers and track calling behaviour to determine if a number is associated with scams. Instead, Google is using its on-device machine learning models to process a call's conversation pattern in real-time to determine whether an incoming call is a scam. On the Pixel 9 series, this will be done by Gemini Nano.

Advertisement

Highlighting an example, the tech giant said if a caller claims to be from the user's bank and asks them to transfer funds due to a breach, the AI model can process the audio information and use its database to confirm whether similar conversation patterns have been used to scam people.

Advertisement

Once it determines that a call could be a potential scam, the AI will provide an audio and haptic alert and show a visual warning. Google highlighted that the feature will remain off by default, and users can either turn it on for all calls from the Phone app settings or turn it on for a particular call. The company claimed that no conversation audio or transcription is stored on the device, sent to Google servers or anywhere else, or is retrievable after the call.

Google Play Protect Live Threat Detection Feature

The second feature is part of Google Play Protect, a safety tool that monitors the Play Store for malicious and harmful apps. With the AI-powered Live Threat Detection feature, Google's AI models will monitor the installed apps on eligible Android devices. If an app shows suspicious behaviour or unnecessary interaction with other apps, the tool will issue a warning in real time alerting the user.

Advertisement

Google Play Protect live threat detection
Photo Credit: Google

 

Google claims that this AI tool will be able to detect apps which lay dormant for a period after installation to evade suspicion. Further, since users can detect harmful behaviour in real-time, it will enable them to take timely action to prevent data stealing. Notably, at launch, the tool will only focus on stalkerware, and malicious apps that collect personal or sensitive user data without permission.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Vivo T4 Ultra Set to Launch in India Soon; Design Teased
  1. Kedarnath Yatra Helicopter Booking Online Scam: Uttarakhand Police STF Reportedly Cracks Down on Cybercriminals
  2. Microsoft's Xbox Handheld Plans Reportedly Shelved; Company to Optimise Windows 11 Gaming Performance
  3. Disney+ Expands Subscriber Perks, Including Movie Premieres
  4. Google, DOJ to Make Final Push in US Search Antitrust Case
  5. Realme GT 7, Realme GT 7T With 7,000mAh Batteries Go on Sale in India: Price, Specifications, Sale Offers
  6. Vivo T4 Ultra Launch in India Teased; Company Hints at Periscope Telephoto Camera With 100x Zoom
  7. Perplexity Labs Launched With Ability to Generate Spreadsheets, Reports and Create Web Apps
  8. Oppo Find N5 Flip Reportedly in Development, Schematics Hint at Updated Design With New Camera Layout
  9. Vivo TWS Air 3 With Spatial Audio, Up to 45-Hour Battery Life Launched: Price, Specifications
  10. iPhone 17 Said to Feature Larger Screen With Long-Awaited Refresh Rate Upgrade
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2025. All rights reserved.